Immunologic effects of arginine supplementation in tumor-bearing and non-tumor-bearing hosts.
Supplemental dietary arginine has anti-tumor properties but the degree and mechanisms are unclear. In non-tumor-bearing CBA/J mice (n = 60), 1% arginine supplementation significantly enhanced thymic weight, spleen cell mitogenesis, and interferon-activated natural killer cell activity; no further enhancement was observed with 2% or 4% supplementation. Supplemental 1% arginine, when compared with 1.7% glycine, enhanced interferon-induced natural killer cell activity, lymphokine-activated killer cell generation, and macrophage cytotoxicity. In A/J mice (n = 420), bearing either a moderately immunogenic (C1300) or weakly immunogenic (TBJ) murine neuroblastoma, 1% arginine significantly (p less than 0.05) retarded tumor growth and prolonged median survival time compared with glycine or no supplementation. Dietary arginine enhanced T-cell function and significantly increased responsiveness to autologous C1300 tumor in a mixed lymphocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC). The immunomodulatory effects of arginine provide nutritional and immunologic support of the tumor-bearing host and may be helpful when given concommitant with immunotherapy.
Reynolds
J V
JV
Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Daly
J M
JM
Shou
J
J
Sigal
R
R
Ziegler
M M
MM
Naji
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005998:Glycine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000276:immunology*
D001120:Arginine; D005998:Glycine